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The Tualatin River Watershed Council has received from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) a $270,000 grant that will advance a multiyear effort to remove an old dam that has blocked fish passage since at least the 1930s.

The dam, commonly known as the Balm Grove Dam, sits in Gales Creek, a tributary of the Tualatin River, near Forest Grove. Removal is expected to open more than 87 miles of historic, 鈥渋n-stream鈥� habitat for coastal cutthroat trout, 28 miles for winter steelhead, and several miles for coho salmon, Pacific lamprey, mountain whitefish, and mountain and largescale sucker fish.

鈥淕ales Creek hosts one of the Tualatin Valley’s most important areas for winter steelhead.鈥� stated Scott McEwan, executive director of the Tualatin River Watershed Council. 鈥淩emoving this dam is going to open up miles and miles of historic habitat. This project has been a high priority for our watershed council for a very long time, and we’re grateful to have the support of OWEB and so many local partners.鈥�

The Balm Grove Dam was built in the early 20th century to create a recreational area with a swimming hole, a tavern and a dance hall. The area has not been used in several decades and the facilities are in disrepair.

Clean Water Services in 2016 purchased the 12-acre property that includes the dam and has since worked with the watershed council and other local partners to restore the area for water quality, fish and wildlife.

Work to remove the dam will begin this summer and is expected to finish in 2023. The total cost is estimated at $750,000.